Antigua is the larger of the two main islands that make up Antigua and Barbuda. It is a beautiful getaway and many tourists enjoy the really energetic island culture but also the peace and tranquility that the surrounding seas bring.

VC Bird International is situated on the outskirts of St John's and to the north of the island. It has regular flights from UK and America, along with smaller planes from elsewhere in the region. It is a fully functioning airport with Wi-fi capabilities and is currently under construction.

LIAT, which merged with Caribbean Star recently, has a hub in Antigua, operating flights to various destinations in the Eastern Caribbean.

Cars may be hired from numerous places around the island. Contact your hotel for more information. However, there is a 40 mph speed limit on the island, so driving can be a tad tedious. Car hire tends to be around US$50 a day.

Taxis (usually minibuses) are not at all cheap in Antigua, and as the road surfaces can be a bit patchy in places, they will take you along the best routes though. The fare, for example, from the West Coast Pineapple Beach Resort (just past the village of Willikies) to St Johns costs US$52 per taxi up to four persons. They are in stark contrast to bus fares.

Antigua is a central hub of the luxury yacht charter industry in the Caribbean. The season kicks off with the Antigua Charter Yacht Show which is usually held in December. Luxury yachts are available through several brokers including Fraser Yachts. For something more affordable you might consider Sunsail.

Scuba diving - there are many reefs off the eastern coastline and as a result, there is some pretty awesome fish to see. Snorkeling is also pretty good here, as the water is very clear, and it's a lot cheaper! Snorkeling on the Western side is spotty to non-existent. Some of the locals recommended Darkwood beach as a location with good snorkeling off right the beach. Not so. While the beach is stunningly beautiful and gloriously uncrowded, most of the "reef" is actually just grass. There is a small fragment of reef at the southern end of the beach, but you have to be wary of the rough surf that tends to push you toward the rocks. The common advice is that the best snorkeling is to be reached by boat.

Sailing - dinghies, cats, cruisers can all be hired from many places around the island, and there are plenty of coves and natural harbours to explore. Why not lay claim to the uninhabited island of Redonda? The current king lives in England somewhere and he won't mind...

Party at Shirley Heights Lookout (an old British fort and signal station near Falmouth) on Sunday evenings to Antiguan music and see the spectacular sunset over English Harbour. Arrive at 4 p.m. to catch the sunset, and by 7 p.m. you'll be eating barbecue and dancing to music by local bands. Entry is US$8, which no longer includes a free drink. Even if you can't attend the barbeque, Shirley Heights Lookout boasts one of Antigua's best views. If you are traveling from the north of the island it is likely to be a costly and disappointing trip, expect to pay around $100US for the round trip. Burgers are expensive for what they are at $10US and there is very little to see or do once the sun goes down. Essentially this is a tourist trap and you are unlikely to see any locals unless they are involved in running the enterprise or driving a taxi.

Culinary Tours,, [1]. Antigua has become a very popular destination for culinary holidays. Caribbean food is delicious, and meals include fresh, organic vegetables or salads, soups, fruit, meats, fish, breads and sweets. Nicole's Table (http://nicolestable.com) offers culinary tours within the area. Nicole Arthurton, who learned under her mother as a child at her family's restaurant in Montserrat, just recently completed 6 years as a private chef for an estate house on the exclusive high-end private island of Jumby Bay off the coast of Antigua. Nicole brings a broad depth of culinary experience coupled with deep knowledge of Caribbean history, customs, and its colourful culture. edit

As one may expect, the central industry where you could gain employment is tourism. One of the best options for travel and work is seeking a career aboard one of the many superyachts in the Caribbean. A good place to register and start looking is YPI Crew or Crew Finders.

St Johns offers a variety of merchants offering most everything needed to visit the island or live there.

Heritage Quay, at the land end of the cruise ship piers, offers a wide variety of duty-free shopping for international visitors. To qualify you for duty-free treatment, merchants often ask to see airline tickets or ship ID cards. Offerings range from jewelry to liquor and tobacco, with one especially nice store for linens. Excellent and unique, hand-made gold jewelry can be found at the Goldsmitty on the street one short block south of and parallel to the main shopping street for the Quay.

Sea food is understandably very popular here. There is also a nice variety of tropical fruits that grow on the island. The national dish is called Fungi (pronounced Foun-gee) and Saltfish. Besides the local dishes almost every major type of cuisine can be found on the island. e.g. Italian, Mexican, American, British, Jamaican etc. Just ask locals for directions..

A host of local drinks exist in Antigua. From Pineapple, Guava, Mauby, Seamoss, Passion Fruit and Hibiscus to imported drinks (Coca Cola, Pepsi, etc) exist. All varieties of water exist, even local brands. Many alcoholic drinks can be found in Antigua from local (Wadadli, English Harbour rum), to regional (Carib Beer), to international, (Smirnoff and Heineken) and can be purchased at any local bar. Rum is by far the most popular spirit, best served as a "Rum Punch".

Antigua is a relatively safe place but, like all places in the world, wisdom should be used. Do not travel alone at night. Stay in well lit places. Do not carry around more money than is absolutely necessary, nor flash expensive jewelry. Do not accept anything from strangers, not even car rides. It may be best to avoid street urchins who beg for money or politely refuse them and in the unlikely event of anything contact the police force.

While in St. John's, be wary of casino scams. The Keno Palace Casino on St. James street runs a variation on the "Razzle Dazzle" game in which a woman will try to lure you in to the Casino with the promise of free bets. The game they bring you to involves pulling balls out of a hopper, with the ultimate goal being to tally a score over 100. You'll appear to be doing quite well at first, and will be enticed to bet real money to chase the cash pot. Before you know it, you may be out hundreds of dollars chasing a prize that you'll never win. Avoid this scam at all costs.